Railway-switch.



No. 875,959. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

'S. L. SHELLENBERGBR. RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 11, 1907.

3 BHEETB-BHBET 1.

Zeixyer,

No. 875,959. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1966.

s. L: SHELLENBERGER.

RAILWAY SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 190"].

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 875,959. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

S. L. SHELLBNBBRGER. RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.11,1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Flylv.

26' 3 27 4? 2/ 2/ /7 2 I E!!!" mu T rail 2, see

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL L. SHELLENBERGER, OF SOUTH MCALESTER, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWIN D. OHADICK, OF SOUTH MCALESTER, OKLAHOMA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, SAMUEL L. SHELLEN- BERGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in South McAlester, in the State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railwa Switches, of which the following is a fu 1, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to switches for railroad tracks and it has for its'object to provide an efficient switch of this character without breaking or interrupting the continuity of the rails of the main line track, whereby the rails of said main line track are caused to present as smooth track surfaces at the location of aswiteh as at any point aside from the switch.

Figure I is a top or plan view of a portion of my switch. Fig. II is a top or plan view of a continuation of the switch adjoining the part shown in Fig. I. Fig. III is a vertical cross section taken on line III-III, Fig. I. Fig. IV is a longitudinal section taken on 7 line IV-IV, Fig. I. Fig. V is a longitudinal section taken on line VV, Fig. I. Fig. VI is a vertical cross section taken on line VIVI,Fig. II. Fig.VII is a erspective view of fragments of one of the p atforms on which the swinging switch members operate and the forward end of one of the swinging switch members.

1 and 2 designate the rails of a main line track which are unbroken and are not interfered with in any manner in the construction of my switch.

3 is an intermediate rail of a branch track located betweenthe main line rails. This intermediate rail terminates at 4 in juxtaposition with the mainline rail 1, see Fig. I and at 5 in 'uxta osition with the main ine ig. II At the last named end of the intermediate branch rail is a crossing block or rail section 6 that occupies a position alongside of the main line rail 2 and abuts against the end of the intermediate rail. The crossing block occupies a position inside of the main track and its top is flush with the top of the main line rail 2 and .as close to this rail as possible whilepermittin passage of car wheel flanges between said .members. The block is securely spiked to the ties on which the main line rails rest and .it is preferablyof inverted. U-shape in cross v Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed anuary 11:1907- Serial No. 351.875-

Patented Jan. 7, 1908'.

section, as seen in Fig. VII 3, see Fig. II,

.is a branch r'ail located exterior of the main line track and terminating adjacent to the main line rail 2 and in line with the intermediate branch rail 3, see Fig. II.

7 is an outer branch track rail that leads to a point 8 and into juxtaposition with the main line track rail 2, as seen in Fig. I

9 designates a platform located alon -side of the main line track rail 1 at the inside of the track and extending from the intermediate branch track rail 3. This platform is preferably of inverted U-shape in cross section, as seen in Fig. III, and in the top of it are transverse slots 10. The platform 9 is of such height that its top occupies a position sufficiently beneath the tread of the main line rail 1. to permit the passa e of truck wheel tread flanges above sai platform.

Thisplatform is secured to the ties on which the main track rails are laid by spikes and the leg of the platform that opposes the rail 1 is hooked thereunder, as seen at 11, Fig. III.

12 ,is a switch rail that is mounted on the platform 9 and provided witha tread flange 13 that is adapted to be moved into a position above the tread of the main line track rail 1. The switch rail 12 is connected at its end adjoining'the intermediate branch track rail 3 to the platform 9 by a pivot bolt 14, thereby providing for the desired movement of the switch rail to the main line track rail 1 in order that the wheels of the car truck may be guided from the main line track rail to the intermediate branchtrack rail or vice versa,

without there being any break in the main" line track rail. 4 The flan e of the switch rail is sloped at 15, see 'Fig. IV, adjacent to the free end of said switch rail in order that the truck wheels may ride onto said flanges or off of it without jarring action. At the free end of the switch rail 12 is a retaining tongue 16, see Figs. I, IV, and VII, that is turned under the top ofthe platform 9 and serves to hold the switch rail in a depressed position while permitting the shifting thereof to and from the main line track rail 1.

17 desi nates a platform located at the exterior of t e main line track and along-side of the track rail 2, the said platform extending from the outer branch track rail 7. This platform is of inverted U shape in cross section and is of a construction similar to the platform 9, being provided with transverse slots 18 located inthetop thereof and having preferably differs, however, from the plati its inner leg hooked under the flange or me rail 2 at 19, see Fig. III. The platform 17 form 9 in being of a height approximately the same as the height of the main line track rails.

g 21 is a' switch rail loosely mounted on the platform 17 and provided with a wheel tread flange 22. The end of the switch rail 21 that ad'oins theend of the outer branch track -rai 7. is connected to the platform 18 by a pivot bolt 23, thereby permitting lateral movement of the switch rail in order that it may be carried over the main line. track rail 2 to brin I its-flange into alinement withthe tread 0 said track-rail and provide'for' the travel of car truck wheels from the main line track rail to the branch track rail or vice versa, without the main line track rail being broken. The flange of the switch rail 21 is provided with a slope 24, see Fig. V, at the free end of said rail to prevent jarring action the travel of the .truck wheels onto the which has a function similar to that of the tongue 16 carried by the switch rail 1-2.

26 desi ates connecting rods that unite the switc rails 12 and 21, they being pivotally connected to said rails by bolts 27. I

28 isa platform-similar in construction to the platforms 9 and 17, and located along side ofv the main line 'track'rail 2 at the outside of the main track and which extends from the branch rail 3. This platform has its inner leg h ooked under theouter flan e of thetrack rail 2, at 29, see Fig. VIian the top of. the platform is slotted similarly'to the platforms-9 and 1,7; I I I 30 designates a crossingswitch rail that is provided with a tread flange 31 and is pivotally connected at 32 to'the platform 28 at its end adjoining the branch track rail 3.

' The crossing switch rail is therefore movably mounted on said platform in'a manner to ermit of its being moved across the main ine track rail 2 to provide a treadway for the car truck wheels leading from the intermediate branch track rail 3- and crossing block 6 to the branch tiack rail 3 or vice versa, with out breaking the main line track rail 2. Thecrossing switch rail 30 is provided withfia retaining tongue 33 located at its free end and engaging the top of the platform on which said rail rests and which has the same function as the retaining tongues 16 and 25 of the switch rails12 and 21.

The movable switchrails of my switch may be operated by any suitable mechanism to shift them into or out of switching post-H tions.

The form'of operating mechanism I have shown comprises a switch operatin lever 84 that is connected through the me him of a series of rocking levers 35 to a throw rod 36 1 united to one of the bolts that connect theconnecting rods 26 to the switch rails 12 and '21 and also comprises rocking levers 2,7 that switch rail {30 by 'a pivot bolt 39. I claim:

1. In a railroad switch, the combination with main line track rails, of branch track rails terminating in juxtaposition tosaid main line rails, platforms of inverted U-shape switch rails mounted on said platforms and adapted to be shifted into position above said main track rails, substantially as set forth. i l

2. In a railroad switch, the combination with a pair of main track rails, of a pair of with a pair of main track rails, of a pair of branch rails terminatin in juxtaposition to said main track rails, platforms of inverted L J-shape in cross section, and a pair of switch rails pivotally connected to said platform at terminations of said branch rails and movable on the platform into, positions above said maintrack rails; said switch rails being roilrlided with flanges,substantially as set ort 4. In a railroad sWitch,-the combination with a pair of main track rails, of a pairjof branch trackrails terminating in juxtaposition to said main track rails, platforms of inverted U-shape in cross section, and a pair of switch rails pivotally connected to said I platform at terminations of said branch rails and movable on the platform into positions above said main track rails; said switch rails being provided with flanges having sloping portionsat the free ends of the rails, substantially as set forth. I .5. In a railroad switch, the combination "with a pair of main track rails, of a pair of branch track rails, latforms of U-shape in cross section locate adjacent to said main said main track rails, and switch rails pivotally mounted upon said platforms-and movable to and from said main trackrails, substantially as set forth.

with a pair of main track rails, of a air of branchtrack rails, platforms locate adjacent to said main track rails, and switch rails pivotally mounted uponsaid platforms are joined by a throivrod 38 to the crossing I .in cross section, and a pair of movable branch track rails terminating in juxtapo track rails, and having legs hooked under 6. In a railroad switch, the combination and movable to and from said main track rails; said switch rails being provided at their free ends with retaining means enagilrllg said platforms, substantially as' set 7. In arailroad switch, the combination with a pair of main track rails, of a air of branch track rails, latforms located a jacent to said main trac rails, and switch rails pivotally mounted upon said platforms and movable to and from said main track rails; said switch rails being provided with retaining tongues engaging said platforms, substantially as set forth.

8. 'In a railroad switch, the combination with a pair of main track rails, of a pair of branch track rails terminating in juxta osit'ion to said main track rails, inverte U- shaped platforms located adjacent to saidmain track rails and having legs rovided .with hooked engagement with the anges of with a oted to said platforms and adapted to be moved into position above said main track rails, substantially as set forth.

9. In a railroad switch, the combination pair of main track rails, of branch track rails gextendin into juxtaposition with said main track ra s, 'and' crossing means located in. the line of one of said branch track rails; said crossing means comprising a crossing block of inverted U-shape'in cross section a platform of inverted U-shape in cross section and a switch rail pivoted to said platform and adapted to be moved into a osition .above the adjacent main track rail substantially as setforth.

SAMUEL 'L. S HELLENBERGER.

In presence of G. S. ROSENWINKEL, ALICE JoNEs. 

